A new Aretha Franklin film is on the way

Celebrating the Queen of Soul’s life.

A new Aretha Franklin film called Respect is being released in cinemas this December.

Read more: The sample legacy of Aretha Franklin

Respect charts Franklin’s life and musical journey, from singing in her father’s church to signing with Atlantic Records in 1966 and her rise to stardom.

Directed by Liesl Tommy, the film stars Jennifer Hudson as Franklin, alongside Forest Whitaker, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, and Tituss Burgess.

Franklin herself picked Hudson to play her, having been involved in the film’s progress until her death in 2018, aged 76.

Respect was originally due to be released this August, but has been pushed back to Christmas Day due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

It follows the release of her Amazing Grace documentary, which saw its long-awaited debut in 2019 after being filmed in 1972.

Watch the trailer for Respect in full above, and head here for more info.